Martin difference in K-Wings home opener

KALAMAZOO - Joel Martin lifted the Kalamazoo Wings (2-1-0-0) to a home opening 1-0 shootout victory over the Fort Wayne Komets (1-1-0-1) Friday night at Wings Stadium in front of a sold out crowd of 5,183.

After a 45 minute delay to the game because of travel delays because of interstate gridlock, Fort Wayne showed no bus legs, outshooting the K-Wings 35-26 for the game.

Without a doubt, Martin was the game’s top performer turning aside 35 shots earning his 16th career shutout and 11th as a member of the K-Wings.

The only scoring in the contest came in the shootout, where the K-Wings out dueled the Komets 3-0, earning tallies from Justin Taylor, Michael Davies and Brett Lysak.

While the shootout may have been an appropriate conclusion for Martin’s dominance, the game-winner for Taylor is also a fitting, as the forward help secure the K-Wings victory, while playing in front of his parents for the first time in his professional career.

Just as solid between the pipes was Fort Wayne’s Kenny Reiter, who made 25 saves in the shootout setback.

The K-Wings will conclude the brief two-game home stand tomorrow, Saturday, October 20th, when the Toledo Walleye come to town for a 7:30 p.m. encounter on Beerfest, presented by Charter Media and WRKR.

Beerfest will feature $3 domestic beers and $4 imports. The Budweiser Girls and Coors Light Girls will also be on hand to celebrate the K-Wings second home game of the season. Fans should come early, to dunk K-Wings employees in the Drunk Tank and to test their football skills in the NFL Tailgate, presented by Charter.

Single-game for the 2012-2013 season are on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday’s. To charge tickets by phone, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are $13 and $17.50 for adults and only $7 for kids ages 14 and under. The price for all K-Wings premium night games (all colored ice games and New Year’s Eve game) are just $1 more.

Fans can save money by purchasing K-Wings single-game tickets in advance because tickets purchased on the day of a game increase by $2 (adults only).